Hogs pour it on Auburn early, claim series

AUBURN, Ala. — After mustering just three hits Saturday afternoon, the Razorbacks brought the bats to Plainsman Park on Sunday.

They racked up 13 knocks in the rubber match against Auburn and won the series with a 7-4 decision.

Although the Hogs had little trouble scoring early, they did have to play from behind.

Auburn right fielder Bobby Peirce made them pay for a throwing error by sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Senior shortstop Jalen Battles drove in the first Arkansas run of the game in the second on a groundout to third base, and Wallace atoned for his defensive miscue with a game-tying RBI double.

The Razorbacks jumped out to a lead in the third on senior center fielder Braydon Webb’s three-run homer. Battles singled with two outs, chasing Auburn starter Joseph Gonzalez from the game.

The Tigers got a run back in the home half of the third on first baseman Sonny DiChiara’s leadoff bomb.

That was the only earned run Razorback sophomore right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins allowed in five innings of work, in which he allowed four hits, walked two batters and struck out six. He improved to 6-1, earning his first win since April 16.

Arkansas tacked on runs in the fifth and sixth innings to stretch the lead to 7-3. Wallace roped his second RBI double of the game and fourth two-bagger of the series for the sixth run, and Battles hit a sacrifice fly for the seventh.

Sophomore right-hander Will McEntire made his first relief appearance of the season and Southeastern Conference debut in the sixth inning. He sat four batters down on strikes and allowed three hits in 3.1 innings.

Senior lefty Evan Taylor took over with runners on the corners and one out in the ninth. He induced a grounder to shortstop, which Battles bobbled, allowing the fourth Auburn run to score. The next ball in play came right back to him, and he initiated a 6-4-3 double play to ice the game.

The Razorbacks do not have a midweek game scheduled next week, so they are set to return to action Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium to host Vanderbilt.

First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m and will be streamed live on the SEC Network+.